Electrolytic reaction apparatus



Aug. 3, 1965 A. B- CALLAHAN 3,198,722

ELECTROLYTIC REACTION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 8, 1962 w b M Fig.3.

INVENTOR Albert 8. Callahan EMG Er United States Patent 3,198,722 ELECTROLYTIC REACTION APPARATUS Albert B. Callahan, Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to Blew-Knox Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 164,654 9 Claims. (Cl. 204-219) This invention relates to electrolytic reaction apparatus and particularly to such apparatus embodying a cell elernent constituting a receptacle which is subject to temperature changes tending to cause deformation or buckling of the cell element with consequent impairment of the functioning of the apparatus.

While my invention is broadly applicable to electrolytic reaction apparatus for carrying out various electrolytic reactions, I shall for purposes of explanation and illustration describe the invention as embodied in a mercury cell for electrolysis of aqueous solutions. For example, it is common to effect in a mercury cell the electrolysis of alkaline metal compounds, particularly halides. Such a mercury cell preferably includes a conducting bottom having thereon a layer of mercury serving as the cathode upon which the solution to be treated is disposed, an anode or series of anodes extending downwardly from above into the solution and terminating close to the upper surface of the layer of mercury. The cell comprises a cell element or component constituting a receptacle which has a flat bottom, the receptacle normally being elongated and slightly inclined to the horizontal in the longitudinal direction but arranged so that line-s at right angles to the longitudinal axis are horizontal. An aqueous solution of salt, for example, sodium chloride, potassium chloride or lithium chloride, together with mercury is introduced at the upper end of the cell. The solution and the mercury flow downwardly through the cell and out at the lower end while undergoing electrolysis. Chlorine gas is released and an amalgam of alkali metal is formed. The amalgam is later decomposed in another operation to form, for example, hydrogen, metal hydroxide-s or alcoholates and mercury, the mercury being recirculated through the cell.

A great amount of heat is evolved by the electrolytic action, such heat tending to deform or buckle the cell element constituting the receptacle. It is of great importance to minimize or eliminate such buckling or deformation as even very slight buckling tends to cause uneven distribution of mercury over the bottom of the cell with consequent impairment of efliciency. Moreover, buckling may cause short circuits between the amalgam or cell bottom and the anodes since the lower extremities of the anodes are normally positioned in close proximity to the surface of the mercury or incipient amalgam.

It has heretofore been considered by those skilled in the art to be the best practice in designing mercury cells to make the cell element constituting the receptacle of massive construction with the intention that because of its massiveness it will be sufiiciently rigid to inhibit buckling or deformation. However, as the size of mercury cells increased the difiiculty or impossibility of preventing buckling or deformation by the mere expedient of massiveness became apparent. Yet no adequate solution to the problem was discovered and great difiiculty is encountered due to buckling and deformation of the cell element constituting the receptacle, the difficulty increasing with cell size.

I have discovered that the problem can be effectively and satisfactorily solved by an entirely new approach. I completely eliminate the concept of inhibiting buckling or deformation of the cell element constituting the receptacle by mas-siveness intended to promote rigidity. My solu- Patented Aug. 3, 1965 tion to the problem is the antithesis of the solutions heretofore proposed. I provide a supporting structure underlying the cell elementwhich constitutes the receptacle of the electrolytic reaction apparatus together with means inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure while permitting movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes. The respective portions of the cell element and the supporting structure through which the cell element is supported by the supporting structure lie in a plane so that any relative movement between the cell element and the supporting structure is in that plane. Thus, instead of relying on massiveness to promote rigidity of the cell element to inhibit buckling or deformation I deliberately provide for movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure due to expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes while inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure and insuring that the cell element will maintain its planar orientation which as described above is important to optimum performance and to avoid short circuits. The means inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively .to the supporting structure are preferably of such character as to inhibit both linear shifting and angular shifting or skewing. To that end I preferably provide at least two fastening or positioning elements, preferably close together and desirably in the region of the center of the cell element, which maintain the cell element as a Whole in position against either linear or angular movement relatively to the supporting structure while permitting movement of all other portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes. I may bolt the cell element to the supporting structure at a localized portion of the cell element, preferably by two bolts, or I may simply provide positioning means such as dowel pins to inhibit substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure. Since the cell element is disposed at only a very slight angle to the horizontal and is directly superimposed upon the supporting structure it .is maintained upon the supporting structure by gravity.

To reduce friction between the cell element and the supporting structure I preferably provide spaced pads through which the cell element is supported by the supporting structure together with means associated with a small minority, at least one, of the pads inhibiting substantial'shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure. I prefer to employ two bolts or dowel pins associated with one of the pads to accomplish that result although means to inhibit shifting may be associated with more than one of the pads if desired. In any event the means to inhibit shifting are associated with a small minority of the pads and when such means are associated with more than one pad such pads are close together so as not to impair the ability of the remainder of the cell element to expand and contract relatively to the supporting structure. The pads have coplanar surfaces through which the cell element is supported so that any relative movement between the cell element and the supporting structure is in the plane defined by those surfaces. I preferably apply lubricant to the surfaces of the pads other than those with which the fastening means fastening the cell element to the supporting structure are associated to facilitate movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure at said other pads.

I preferably provide spaced pads connected with the under surface of the cell element and correspondingly positioned spaced pads surmounting the supporting structure and respectively underlying in supporting relationship the first mentioned pads so that the cell element is supported by the supporting structure through pairs of cooperating pads. The pads may be ranged in rows and columns to effectively support the cell element on the supporting structure and maintain the cell element in its planar orientation while minimizing frictional resistence to expansion and contraction of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, with portions broken away, of electrolytic reaction apparatus, the anodes being omitted for sake of clarity of showing of the elements of the apparatus with which my invention is concerned;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a worms eye view of the cell element constituting the receptacle as viewed from below along the line IIIIII of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line IVIV of FIGURE 3, but including the supporting structure and fastening means.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the supporting structure for the apparatus comprises parallel longitudinal beams 2 upon which are supported at intervals cross beams 3. Mounted upon the upper surfaces of the cross beams 3 are pads 4 which are preferably of steel with machined upper surfaces, the pads 4 being fastened to the beams 3 by any suitable means such as welding and the machined upper surfaces of all of the pads 4 being coplanar. The pads 4 are ranged in rows and columns as shown in FIGURE 3 to afford support for the cell element constituting the receptacle presently to be described throughout its extent while minimizing friction between the cell element and the supporting structure. The plane of the machined upper surfaces of the pads 4 is very slightly inclined in the horizontal longitudinally of the apparatus and the supporting structure is erected so that lines at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the supporting structure in the common plane of the machined upper surface of the pads 4 are horizontal.

The bottom of the cell element which constitutes the receptacle isa steel plate 5 which is supported upon the pads 4. The steel plate 5 may be in direct contact with the pads 4 in which case the under surface of the plate should be machined so that it is accurately maintained in planar orientation parallel to the common plane of the machined upper surfaces of the pads 4, but I prefer to attach pads 6 to the under surface of the plate 5, the pads 6 being fastened to the plate 5 by any suitable mean such as welding and having their under surfaces machined so that the under surfaces of all of the pads 6 are accurately coplanar. The pads 6 are preferably the same in number as the pads 4 and similarly positioned so that when the plate 5 with the pads 6 applied to its under surface is set down on the pads 4 each pad 6 will be superimposed upon a corresponding pad 4. Since the upper surfaces of the pads 4 are machined in a common plane and the under surfaces of the pads 6 are machined in a common plane the plate 5 is supported by the supporting structure so that upon expansion and contraction of the plate it will maintain its planar orientation.

The central one of the pads 6 is shown to enlarged scale in FIGURE 4 which as above described is taken along the line IVIV of FIGURE 3. Two fastening or positioning elements 7 shown as in the form of studs are threaded into the central pad 6 as shown in FIGURE 4 and project downwardly therefrom. The corresponding central pad 4 underlying the central pad 6 has holes 8 therethrough through which the studs 7 pass. Also the underlying beam 3 has holes 9 in its upper flange through which the studs 7 pass. Nuts 10 are applied to the studs 7 underneath the flange of the beams as shown in FIGURE 4 and are tightened against the under surface of the beam flange whereby substantial shifting of the plate 5 as a Whole relatively to the supporting structure is inhibited. As above indicated dowel pins may be employed in place of the studs 7. The two studs or dowel pins inhibit both linear shifting of the plate 5 relatively to the supporting structure and angular shifting of the plate relatively to the supporting structure, but since such means are applied only to a localized portion of the plate 5 (preferably although not necessarily in the region of the center of the plate) all other-portions of the plate are free to expand and contract and in so doing to move relatively to the supporting structure, being guided to maintain the planar orientation of the plate by the machined surfaces of the pads as above described. I preferably provide lubricant between the machined upper surfaces of the pads 4 and the machined lower surfaces of the pads 6, except the pads in association with which the bolts or dowel pins are provided, to facilitate relative movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure at said first mentioned pads.

The remainder of the electrolytic reaction apparatus may be conventional. The sides of the cell are shown as being constituted by channels 11 disposed atop the longitudinal edges of the plate 5 with their flanges facing outwardly as shown in FIGURE 2. U-shaped rubber liners 12 are applied to the channels 11 as shown. The lower flanges of the channels 11 are bolted to the plate 5 by bolts 13. The top of the cell is constituted by a plate 14 having its bottom covered with a rubber liner 15 as shown in FIGURE 2, the plate 14 being fastened to beams 11 by C clamps 16. An insulating strip 17 is interposed between the upper surface of the lower jaw of each C clamp 16 and the lower surface of the upper flange of the corresponding channel 11 as shown in FIGURE 2. The anodes (not shown) project down through the top of the cell in conventional manner as above described.

Thus I provide in an entirely novel manner for inhibiting buckling or deformation of the cell of an electrolytic reaction apparatus, providing for free expansion and contraction thereof While at the same time insuring maintenance of the planar orientation of the cell. I also substantially reduce the cost of the apparatus as the need for massiveness, heretofore considered essential, is eliminated.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Electrolytic reaction apparatus comprising an elongated cell element constituting a receptacle, a supporting structure underlying the cell element and means interposed between the cell element and the supporting structure inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure while permitting movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes, said means including means fastening a localized portion of the cell element only in the region of the transverse center line of the cell element to the supporting structure.

2. Electrolytic reaction apparatus comprising an elongated cell element constituting a receptacle, a supporting structure underlying the cell element, the respective portions of the cell element and the supporting structure through which the cell element is supported by the supporting structure lying in a plane so that any relative movement between the cell element and the supporting structure is in said plane, and means interposed between the cell element and the supporting structure inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure while permitting movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes, said means including means fastening a localized portion of the cell element only in the region of the transverse center line of the cell element to the supporting structure.

3. Electrolytic reaction apparatus comprising an elongated cell element constituting a receptacle, a supporting structure underlying the cell element, spaced pads through which the cell element is supported by the supporting structure and means associated with at least one of the pads only in the region of the transverse center line of the cell element fastening the cell element thereto inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure, said means constituting the sole means fastening the cell element to the supporting structure, permitting movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure at other pads due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes.

4. Electrolytic reaction apparatus comprising an elongated cell element constituting a receptacle, a supporting structure underlying the cell element, spaced pads through which the cell element is supported by the supporting structure, the pads having coplanar surfaces through which the cell element is supported so that any relative movement between the cell element and the supporting structure is in the plane defined by said surfaces, and means associated with at least one of the pads only in the region of the transverse center line of the cell element fastening the cell element thereto inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure, said means constituting the sole means fastening the cell element to the supporting structure, permitting movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure at other pads due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes.

5. Electrolytic reaction apparatus comprising an elongated cell element constituting a receptacle, a supporting structure underlying the cell element, spaced pads through which the cell element is supported by the supporting structure, the pads having coplanar surfaces through which the cell element is supported so that any relative movement between the cell element and the supporting structure is in the plane defined by said surfaces, means associated with at least one of the pads only in the region of the transverse center line of the cell element fastening the cell element thereto inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a Whole relatively to the supporting structure, said means constituting the sole means fastening the cell element to the supporting structure, permitting movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure at other pads due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes and lubricant on said surfaces of said other pads to facilitate movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure at said other pads.

6. Electrolytic reaction apparatus comprising an elongated cell element constituting a receptacle, a supporting structure underlying the cell element, spaced pads connected with the under surface of the cell element and correspondingly positioned spaced pads surmounting the supporting structure and respectively underlying in supporting relationship the first mentioned pads so that the cell element is supported by the supporting structure through pairs of cooperating pads and means associated with at least one of the pairs of cooperating pads only in the region of the transverse center line of the cell element fastening the cell element thereto inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure, said means constituting the sole means fastening the cell element to the supporting structure, permitting movement or" portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure at other pairs of cooperating pads due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes.

7. Electrolytic reaction apparatus comprising an elongated cell element constituting a receptacle, a supporting structure underlying the cell element, spaced pads through which the cell element is supported by the supporting structure and fastening means associated with at least one of the pads only in the region of the transverse center line of the cell element fastening the cell element to the supporting structure thereat and thereby inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure, said means constituting the sole means fastening the cell element to the supporting structure, permitting movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure at other pads due to expansion and'contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes.

8. Electrolytic reaction apparatus comprising an elongated cell element constituting a receptacle, a supporting structure underlying the cell element, the supporting structure comprising underlying primary beams and secondary beams atop the underlying primary beams extending transversely of the underlying primary beams, and means interposed between the cell element and the secondary beams inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure while permitting movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes, said means including means fastening a localized portion of the cell element only in the region of the transverse center line of the cell element to the supporting structure.

9. Electrolytic reaction apparatus comprising an elongated cell element constituting a receptacle, a supporting structure underlying the cell element, the supporting structure comprising underlying primary beams and secondary beams atop the underlying primary beams extending transversely of the underlying primary. beams, spaced pads through which the cell element is supported by the secondary beams and means associated with at least one of the pads only in the region of the transverse center line of the cell element fastening the cell element thereto inhibiting substantial shifting of the cell element as a whole relatively to the supporting structure, said means constituting the sole means fastening the cell element to the supporting structure, permitting movement of portions of the cell element relatively to the supporting structure at other pads due to expansion and contraction of the cell element caused by temperature changes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,154,830 4/39 Benker 204-219 2,550,231 4/51 De Prez et al 204-219 2,680,259 6/54 Milk 14-16 2,820,755 1/58 Szechtman 204-219 2,874,103 2/59 Syz et al 204-243 2,998,374 8/61 Granfors 204-250 FOREIGN PATENTS 574,109 4/59 Canada. 1,051,819 3/59 Germany.

231,249 6/44 Switzerland.

JOHN H. MACK, Primary Examiner. JOHN R. SPECK, Examiner. 

1. ELECTROLYTIC REACTION APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CELL ELEMENT CONSTITUTING A RECEPTACLE, A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE UNDERLYING THE CELL ELEMENT AND MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE CELL ELEMENT AND THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE INHIBITING SUBSTANTIAL SHIFTING OF THE CELL ELEMENT AS A WHOLE RELATIVELY TO THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE WHILE PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF PORTIONS OF THE CELL ELEMENT RELATIVELY TO THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE DUE TO EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE CELL ELEMENT CAUSED BY TEMPERATURE CHANGES, SAID MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FASTENING A LOCALIZED PORTION OF THE CELL ELEMENT ONLY IN THE REGION OF THE TRANSVERSE CENTER LINE OF THE CELL ELEMENT TO THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE. 